Brazil's Christ the Redeemer lights up to honour coronavirus-hit countries

Stunning images have surfaced on social media showing the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lit up with the flags of all the countries that have been hit by Covid-19.

The 38-metre tall statue was lit up with images of each flag on Wednesday for a mass led by the Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Dom Orani Tempesta, in honour of the victims of the virus around the world.

The illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer as Archbishop of the city of Rio de Janeiro performs a mass in honour of the victims of Covid-19 around the world. Photo / Getty Images

There are more than 219,000 cases of coronavirus around the world and the number continues to rise.

The illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer. Photo / Getty Images

Nearly 9,000 people have died from Covid-19 and the virus is in 157 countries.

Pray together.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer is lit up in the colors of the countries that are affected by the #COVID19 outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 18, 2020. Sergio Moraes, Reuters pic.twitter.com/BGpH50s9we

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) March 19, 2020

"Rio's Christ the Redeemer lit up in solidarity with countries affected by the coronavirus" 😁🙏❤️❣️ pic.twitter.com/nmAcIHdTt5

— 🌹AILEEN DELGADO🌹 (@aileendelgado47) March 19, 2020

Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue lit up in solidarity with all the countries affected by the coronavirus crisis. https://t.co/m3IW3ZIoa6 pic.twitter.com/4A31F0aEh9

— ABC News (@ABC) March 19, 2020

The statue, which last year saw almost two million visitors, closed at day's end on Tuesday and won't reopen for at least a week.

To contain the virus' spread, Brazil's Chico Mendes Institute on Tuesday ordered the closure of all national parks it oversees, including the one that's home to the Christ.

Brazil has recorded more than 500 cases of Covid-19, including four deaths.